Many RPC calls to a global catalog occur in a distributed Windows Server 2003 environment

When you deploy the Active Directory directory service in a distributed Microsoft Windows Server 2003 environment, you may experience heavy network traffic over the remote links. This problem occurs when the following conditions are true:

• You have many remote sites.
• Each site has a domain controller but no global catalog.

Typically, you may notice many remote procedure calls (RPC) to the global catalog over the remote link.

This problem occurs when the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) Windows NT event log provider uses a random GUID on a directory services call. When the Windows NT event log provider has to convert a GUID, the Windows NT event log provider calls the DsCrackNames function. If the DsCrackNames function cannot convert the GUID, the DsCrackNames function contacts the global catalog.

Note The DsCrackNames function converts an array of directory service object names from one format to another format.

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement

You do not have to restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

Windows Server 2003, 32-bit versions

Windows Server 2003, 64-bit versions

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

For more information about Active Directory in Windows Server 2003, visit the following Microsoft Web site: For additional information about the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: